Hinge with motion limiting mechanism

Abstract

A motion limiting device for hingedly connected storage containers which includes a motion limiting protrusion, an arcuate slot, a rib, and an arcuate groove. The motion limiting protrusion and the rib are abutted and formed in the rear sidewall portion of a first member. The arcuate slot and arcuate groove are correspondingly shaped and formed in the rear sidewall portion of a second member such that the motion limiting protrusion and rib become matingly engaged with the arcuate slot and arcuate groove respectively when the first member and second member are hingedly connected.

I claim: 
     
       1. A motion limiting mechanism adapted for use with a hinge comprising: a first member having a first substantially planar surface;   a second member having a second substantially planar surface, wherein said first and second surfaces are disposed parallel and in close proximity to one another;   a hinge for allowing rotational movement between said first and second members, said hinge comprising a circular depression on said first surface and a matingly engagable circular protrusion on said second surface, wherein an axis of rotation of said members is substantially coaxial with said circular depression and perpendicular to said first and second surfaces;   a motion limiting mechanism for limiting rotation between said first and second members, said motion limiting mechanism comprising; a rib on said second surface having a first end connected to said first protrusion and a second end disposed radially outward from said first end, wherein a height of said second end is greater than said first end, and an arcuate depression on said first surface having a radius of curvature centered on said circular depression, having first and second endwalls, said arcuate depression being matingly engagable with said rib allowing said rib to freely move within said depression and between said first and second endwalls whereby relative rotation between said first and second members is limited by an angular dimension of said arcuate depression around said circular depression.   
     
     
       2. The motion limiting mechanism of claim 1, wherein said arcuate depression extends 180 degrees around said circular depression. 
     
     
       3. The motion limiting mechanism of claim 1, wherein a width of said rib decreases with increasing distance from said first end to said second end. 
     
     
       4. The motion limiting mechanism of claim 1 wherein said rib is ramp-like. 
     
     
       5. The motion limiting mechanism of claim 1, wherein; said rib includes first and second portions, said first portion comprising rib of uniform height and said second portion comprising a motion limiting protrusion extending from said second end of said rib; and   said arcuate depression including first and second portions, said first portion being an arcuate groove matingly engagable with said first portion of said rib, said second portion of said arcuate depression being a arcuate slot disposed radially outside of said arcuate groove and matingly enagable with said second portion of said rib.   
     
     
       6. The motion limiting mechanism of claim 5, wherein said arcuate depression extends 180 degrees around said circular depression. 
     
     
       7. The motion limiting mechanism of claim 5, wherein said motion limiting protrusion comprises a cylinder extending perpendicular from said rib. 
     
     
       8. The motion limiting mechanism of claim 5, wherein a width of said rib decreases with increasing distance from said first end to said second end.